(Sorry; reposting with correct subject.)
Everything else is
too complex for authors anyway.
Clearly people want features in the software that the developers are
too busy or unmotivated to implement. The barrier to becoming a
Mediawiki developer is high, but the barrier to creating a conditional
template is not. Authors/editors/endusers *don't need* to edit the
complex templates; they need to edit the articles, which are becoming
more and more daunting the more features are added to the syntax. If
the intermediately-skilled programmers can make editing simpler and
easier for the end users, isn't that a good thing?
Of course, the best solution would be to implement infoboxes and the
like directly in the Mediawiki software, in a way that doesn't require
end users to code anything. But until that happens, people are going
to use as many shortcuts as they can to make it easy on newcomers.
What the **** is that? We don't need geek-features
but a simple solution.
> (warning: obscene code alert).
Stop being so hostile to people trying to improve the Wikipedia.
Do they unnecessarily load down the servers? Fine. Then they should
be killed, for now. (But don't call it "killing" and don't be an ass
about it.) Is the code obscene? Fine, but don't call it "obscene".
These people are just trying to help, in ways that you are unable or
unwilling to do. Be nice.